Methodists at Durham Miners’ Gala

More than 200,000 people took part in Britain’s biggest celebration of community and solidarity last weekend at the Durham Miners’ Gala. The Gala parades through the city with banners and brass bands from pit villages, miners’ associations, unions and other organisations. The Durham Miners’ Gala is a living, emotional reminder of the sacrifices made by workers and their families in the past and a call to all for social justice today.

This year, a new banner was paraded through the streets, a banner from the Methodist Church.

The Durham Miners’ Gala was first held in 1871. Mining was a dangerous, back-breaking job that forged communities and faith. Rooted in personal holiness and social justice rather than hierarchy, Methodism was the denomination many miners chose to follow. This year, the Evangelism and Growth team partnered with the Newcastle and Darlington Districts and Elvet Methodist Church in Durham to recognise the relationship between Methodism, the miners and the support for those communities left behind now that the pits have closed.

The new Methodist banner was created by freelance illustrator Benji Spence who worships at Jesmond Methodist Church in Newcastle. The design began by consulting people from across the Methodist Church who were interested in the Gala. They discussed what they would like people to see and how they would like to feel carrying the banner. The group focused on ideas around heritage and hope, with the final banner featuring a miner’s lamp and the words ‘Dignity, Hope and Belonging’.

“People have been really nice about the new banner,” says Benji. “It was a real honour to be part of this. The banners at the Gala create something that the whole community can stand behind, a sense of ownership, but without the individualism.”

Along the route of the parade is Elvet Methodist Church that has been part of the Gala almost since the church opened in 1904 with members and volunteers serving tea and cakes across generations. Paul Harrison is secretary there, “I still have receipts upstairs for buns and ham from the 1940s. There are people who come here in their 70s that remember being toddlers and coming into the church hall for something to eat. We are part of the Gala tradition for many families.”

That tradition of hospitality continues today, as does the support for the mining communities. “Mining is still a very important part of the culture for the people who live around here,” says Elvet Church minister, the Revd John Squares. “When I do a pastoral visit, I would say 50% of the people that I go to see have a miner's lamp that a family member has left to them. It's part of their legacy and still very much in the hearts of the people who live in this area.”

A team of volunteers shared God’s love and care, listening to people’s stories in a reflection and prayer space that had been established in the church grounds next the passing parade. A giant miner’s lamp placed outside the front of the church was available for people to post their prayers.

Kathy Bevan is the Evangelism and Justice enabler for Newcastle District. “There's been a lot of conversation about hope, about good news and telling positive stories. We're asking people what their hopes are for their communities, what does justice look like where they are and inviting people to write prayers for their community.”

The Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Caroline Stead, also spent her time chatting and praying with people. “We're best at being out amongst the people, which is where the Church needs to be – listening. People have been willing to come and share with us, especially to ask for prayer. As I was walking here this morning, I stopped to chat with the emergency services on a bridge and asked if they would like us to pray for them. They were so very keen for that.”

The parade ended at Durham Racecourse, where speeches were given and unions hosted tents for members and to promote their work. The mission of the Methodist Church continued with a marquee giving people an opportunity to share their story along with music and a small exhibition telling some of the links between Methodism and mining.

The Revd Richard Andrew, District Chair for the Darlington District, and Ex-President of the Methodist Conference, was one of those chatting with the visitors at the marquee. “One of the stories told this weekend was of Willington Methodist Church, a church that stayed after the mine had closed and has become a mainstay and centre of its community. The miners’ strike and pit closures were many years ago, but some of these communities are still struggling and suffering.

“The presence of kind, Christian communities is important to bring hope where hope is limited. Seeing the Methodist banner this weekend with its message of dignity, hope and belonging, captures the spirit of the area, of the miners and of Methodism.”

Bryn Lauder, Festival Events Coordinator for The Connexional Team, commented, “Durham Miners’ Gala was a powerful reminder that the Church is at its best when it is rooted in the life of the community it serves. We were there not just to speak into the space but more importantly to listen, to hear people’s stories, celebrate all that brings communities together, to hear the marginalised voices of communities that have been left behind and to share a message of hope and solidarity. For Methodists, evangelism and justice have always gone hand in hand and our time at the Gala was a powerful reminder of the importance of both.”